My Room: Hives and Bugs

I am a worrier. At times, I might even say I am not worried but I am. When someone wants to talk to me, I worry about what have I done wrong. When someone comes to my room, I worry about what they will see. When someone compliments me, I worry about if they only knew....

Today, I had to keep my mouth SHUT!!!! I might even incriminate myself with this blog post because as I have said my blog is not a secret and it is being read right now that I am WORRIED about my room!!!! My classroom is tiny and we have no wall space...meaning there is no room for all of these anchor charts I am making. I look around at all of the other learning evidence they say I should have. HIVES, HIVES, HIVES!!!! STRESS, STRESS, STRESS!!! Let me pull out my sleeping bag and plan a sleepover in my room. That is the ONLY way I could get it all done!!!

I either find myself worrying, not sleeping, getting stomach ulcers and living in a state of freaking out or in the corner in the fetal position rocking and saying "Welcome to Wal-Mart."

Then, I was reminded today of something that is not "evidence" on the wall or on a piece of paper. One of my kiddos told me he was going to add me a helpful heart for loving him even when he was making bad choices AND also for not letting him get away with that behavior. My other children then (without my saying ONE word) celebrated him for changing his choices.

I forget sometimes that something special IS happening in my room with the way my children celebrate and encourage each other but also how they learn to handle conflicts. They talk to each other about making eye contact, speaking clearly and using a kind tone of voice when working out a problem AND we learn about offering forgiveness....and yes, we still have days where they are toots!!!

As I drove home and my mind was worrying, freaking out and I was about to call someone to call me away from the edge, I remembered my poem "In This Room". My room is more than the nasty carpet that drives me INSANE, the anchor charts on the wall, the lack of a gazillion things, and a teacher who is sometimes drowning...even though those things are ALL TRUE. =)

I must remind myself that my room could be a place where touching a child's heart could touch their life forever.

Please take a moment to read this poem and think about your room.

Now to the bugs! We have had ants this year. Several months ago in a reading group a flea jumped off of a kid and then he started scratching his head and another flea jumped onto his book. Last week one kiddo started saying "La cucaracha, la cucaracha"....someone had a roach crawl out of their backpack or it was hunting for crumbs someone dropped from the FUN and I KNOW YOU ARE JEALOUS OF ME Breakfast in the Classroom.....who knows??!!!???? Thank heavens that we have not had lice.

These bugs though are CUTE! I hope you enjoy this math game with the Love Bugs!

graphics by Scrappin' Doodles

Now about the giveaway I am loving!

Here are some pictures of the shirts that Sewing Sassy can make if you win my awesome giveaway!

Go check out the giveaway here! I have a HUGE surprise for Wednesday. One of THE blogging queens is helping by giving away 2 units from her TpT store. You won't want to miss out on this!

So, go share about my giveaway on your blog or Facebook page! =)

Please leave me a heart note if you want to show me some love or to let me know you appreciate the *freebie*! They make my heart smile!